January 31, 2013 09:42 PM CSTJanuary 31, 2013 09:42 PM CSTFraley: Mavericks' point guards 'can not hack it with the game on the line'

Fraley: Mavericks' point guards 'can not hack it with the game on the line'

5/17

Louis DeLuca/Staff Photographer

Vince Carter: EXPECTATIONS: As he turns 36 this week, the hope was that he would be able turn back the clock and be the sixth-man scoring machine that Jason Terry used to be.COMMENTS: Durability has not been an issue and Carter has been giving the Mavericks more than they possibly could have hoped for. He’s in the running for hoops valedictorian. GRADE - Pass.

Catch SportsDay On Air twice per week on Fox Sports Southwest, when Dallas Morning News experts discuss hot sports topics from the Cowboys, Mavericks, Stars, Rangers and colleges (check our TV listings for air times). Here are a few highlights from Thursday's episode featuring Gerry Fraley and Kevin Sherrington:

On how damaging the loss to the Blazers was:

Fraley: “It’s sort of like a hockey 4-point game. That’s a team that you’re trying to catch or pass in the playoff situation. Portland has been coming back to the field in the lower part of the playoff bracket. Also, I think it just adds to the doubts that this team can’t close games. This team should have five or six more wins if it knew how to handle the fourth quarter. This is where you dearly miss an intelligent point guard like Jason Kidd. The point guards that they have now just can not hack it with the game on the line. They’ve suffered from that every night.”

On the Mavs having six players on the court in Portland:

Fraley: “We can laugh at it but to me, it’s sort of emblematic of a bigger problem. This team has been out of sync since day 1. Now, you’re incorporating 10 new guys. That’s a huge task. Rick Carlisle is a tremendous coach. He’s the best coach in this town. He’s one of the best in the NBA but to incorporate all these guys is a herculean task. I don’t think they’ve come close to conquering it. Again, they’ve been out of sync all year long. They’re just out of sync.”

To post a comment, log into your chosen social network and then add your comment below. Your comments are subject to our Terms of Service and the privacy policy and terms of service of your social network. If you do not want to comment with a social network, please consider writing a letter to the editor.